Financial Need: the Basic Principle of Financial Aid

Financial Need: The Basic Principle of Financial Aid

Eligibility for most federal and state and some institutional student financial aid programs is based on financial need or demonstrated eligibility. Financial need is the difference between the cost of attendance at the school and the family’s expected contribution.

Cost of AttendanceSchool ASchool BSchool CSchool D

Direct Costs

Tuition ______

Fees ______

Room______

Board (meals)______

Books and Supplies______

Indirect Costs

Transportation______

Personal/Misc.______

*Other ______

Total Costs______

Minus ESTIMATED

Family Contribution

Parent Contribution______

Student Contribution______

Equals

ESTIMATED

Financial Need______

*Other may include: study abroad costs, dependent care expenses, disability-related expenses and/or cooperative education program costs.)

Handout 1

TIPS TO HELP FAMILIES PLAN AND CONTROL COLLEGE COSTS

Try to determine a realistic estimate of what it will cost you to enroll in college. Be sure to include all direct and indirect costs: tuition, fees, room, board, books and supplies, personal/miscellaneous expenses, transportation.

Consider these ways to reduce costs:

Set a realistic and reasonable budget for personal expenses such as clothing, entertainment, food not already paid for through an on-campus meal plan, etc. Stick to your budget.

Buy used books whenever possible. Always check for the edition to make sure you’re buying the correct book.

Sell back books - to the bookstore - after the term ends OR sell your books to other students. (Wait until you no longer need them before selling!)

If you commute from home, share a ride if at all possible. See if you can schedule your classes so you’re on campus only two or three days a week, instead of five.

If you plan to live on campus, get familiar with the area to determine if you really need a car. Can you use public transportation?

If you live off campus and it’s safe and not too far, walk to class or ride a bike. It’s great exercise,reduces transportation expenses, and helps the environment!

If you park on your college’s campus, obey all parking regulations. Tickets and towing charges can add up quickly.

When going home for a weekend, share a ride.

Take advantage of the free (or at least, low cost) entertainment and cultural events on yourcampus.

Investigate thoroughly all your options for resources to assist you with the costs, including summer jobs, part time jobs on campus, AmeriCorps and opportunities through your parents’ places of employment.

Handout 2

FTC Consumer Alert!

Ouch! Students Getting Stung

Trying to Find $$$ for College

Need money for college? Doesn't everybody? With tuition bills skyrocketing, and room and board going through the roof, students and their families are looking for creative ways to finance a college education. Unfortunately, in their efforts to pay the bills, many of them are falling prey to scholarship and financial aid scams.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, unscrupulous companies guarantee or promise scholarships, grants or fantastic financial aid packages. Many use high pressure sales pitches at seminars where you're required to pay immediately or risk losing out on the "opportunity."

Some unscrupulous companies guarantee that they can get scholarships on behalf of students or award them "scholarships" in exchange for an advance fee. Most offer a "money back guarantee"- but attach conditions that make it impossible to get the refund. Others provide nothing for the student's advance fee - not even a list of potential sources; still others tell students they've been selected as "finalists" for awards that require an up-front fee. Sometimes, these companies ask for a student's checking account to "confirm eligibility," then debit the account without the student's consent. Other companies quote only a relatively small "monthly" or "weekly" fee and then ask for authorization to debit your checking account - for an undetermined length of time.

The FTC cautions students to look and listen for these tell-tale lines:

• "The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back."

• "You can't get this information anywhere else."

• "I just need your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship."

• "We'll do all the work."

• "The scholarship will cost some money."

• "You've been selected" by a "national foundation" to receive a scholarship - or "You're a finalist" in a contest you never entered.

If you attend a seminar on financial aid or scholarships, follow these steps:

Take your time. Don't be rushed into paying at the seminar. Avoid high-pressure sales pitches that require you to buy now or risk losing out on the opportunity. Solid opportunities are not sold through nerve-racking tactics.

Investigate the organization you're considering paying for help. Talk to a guidance counselor or financial aid advisor before spending your money. You may be able to get the same help for free.

Be wary of "success stories" or testimonials of extraordinary success - the seminar operation may have paid "shills" to give glowing stories. Instead, ask for a list of at least three local families who've used the services in the last year. Ask each if they're satisfied with the products and services received.

Be cautious about purchasing from seminar representatives who are reluctant to answer questions or who give evasive answers to your questions. Legitimate business people are more than willing to give you information about their service.

Ask how much money is charged for the service, the services that will be performed and the company's refund policy. Get this information in writing. Keep in mind that you may never recoup the money you give to an unscrupulous operator, despite stated refund policies.

The FTC says many legitimate companies advertise that they can get students access to lists of scholarships in exchange for an advance fee. Other legitimate services charge an advance fee to compare a student's profile with a database of scholarship opportunities and provide a list of awards for which a student may qualify. And, there are scholarship search engines on the World Wide Web. The difference: Legitimate companies never guarantee or promise scholarships or grants.

This publication was produced in cooperation with the College Parents of America. CPA is a resource, advisor and advocate working on behalf of the millions of parents of current and future college students throughout the United States. For more information about CPA, call toll free 1-888-256-4627 or visit CPA online at

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or use the online complaint form. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION FOR THE CONSUMER

1-877-FTC-HELP

May 1999

Handout 3

Determining Eligibility for Student Aid

School ASchool BSchool C

Cost of Attendance$ 9,000$ 15,000$30,000

Family Contribution - 5,000 5,000 5,000

______

Eligibility for

need-based aid$ 4,000$ 10,000$25,000

NOTE: Some institutions may not be able to meet your full eligibility for aid, leaving a gap between your need for aid and the amount of aid offered. In those situations, if the student wants to attend the college, the family will need to tap other resources (loans, family members, additional work).

Handout 4

PRIMARY PROGRAMS OF STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

NEED-BASED PROGRAMS

FEDERAL PELL GRANTS

Eligibility determined directly from Expected Family Contribution with maximum of $4,731 for 2008-09.

ACADEMIC COMPETITIVENESS GRANTS

Awarded to Pell Grant recipients who: are enrolled at least half-time in undergraduate degree or certificate program at

Two-year or four-year degree-granting college/university and completed a rigorous program of study after 1/1/2005. Receive $750 as first-year student; $1,300 if renewed as sophomore. Must have a 3.0 GPA to be renewed for 2nd year.

FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS

Awards of $100 - $4000 to the neediest students determined by institution.

FEDERAL PERKINS LOANS

Limited number of loans; recipients determined by institution. Maximum $5,500 per year; interest rate 5%

FEDERAL WORK STUDY

Usually 8 to 15 hours per week; hourly rate of pay is at least minimum wage.Recipients selected by institution.

N.C. STUDENT INCENTIVE GRANT

$700 annually; awarded by College Foundation to students with high financial need

UNC NEED-BASED GRANT

Amounts range from $100 to $3700 for 2008-09 and vary depending on family contribution and cost of attendance.

NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY COLLEGE GRANT

Awards vary from $100 to $1100 and depend on the amount of the Pell Grant.

NORTH CAROLINA EDUCATION LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP

Considers amount of Pell Grant the student will receive. Awards vary and are determined by College Foundation. Eligible students whose family’s contribution is $5,000 or less(calculated using FAFSA) willreceive a total of at least $2,500 from Pell and/or Lottery Scholarship.

EDUCATION ACCESS REWARDS NORTH CAROLINA

$4,000 annually; recipients must be dependent for federal aid purposes or ward/ dependent of the court,demonstrate total family income not exceeding 200% of the federal poverty guideline and meet all other Pell Grant eligibility requirements. Available to help students attend colleges or universities in NC without loans for first two years only.

FEDERAL SUBSIDIZED STAFFORD OR DIRECT LOANS

Maximum amounts of: $3,500 for freshmen; $4,500 for sophomores; $5,500 for juniors/seniors

Fixed interest rate is 5.6% for the period 7/1/09-6/30/10. Repayment begins six (6) months after no longer enrolled at

least half-time; deferment and cancellation provisions available.

NON-NEED BASED PROGRAMS

NORTH CAROLINA LEGISLATIVE TUITION GRANT

NC Residents attending one of the 36 NC independent colleges as at least a half-time student. 2008-09 amount is $1,950 and is prorated for less than full-time enrollment.

UNSUBSIDIZED FEDERAL STAFFORD OR DIRECT LOANS

Interest begins while student is in school; for period 7/1/08-6/30/09, interest rate is 6.8%

PLUS (PARENT) LOANS

Maximum available is equal to annual cost of education minus student financial aid. Interest rate is 8.5% for period

7/1/08-6/30/09. Repayment begins 60 days after fully disbursed.

Handout 5

North Carolina

Recognized Rigorous Secondary School Programs of Study

(for Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant)

The eligibility options for a student graduating from secondary school in North Carolina during the 2009 calendar year are:

• A set of courses similar to the State Scholars Initiative. This program of study requires passing grades in the following:
• Four years of English;
• Three years of math (including Algebra I and a higher level course such as Algebra II, geometry, or data analysis and statistics);
• Three years of science (including at least two courses from biology, chemistry or physics);
• Three years of social studies; and
• One year of a foreign language.

• Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and test scores. This program requires a minimum of two Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses in high school and a minimum passing score on the exams for those classes. Students must score 3 or higher on AP exams and 4 or higher on IB exams.

• North Carolina College/University Preparation Course of Study. This program requires:
• Four English Language Arts Credits
• Four Mathematics Credits (Algebra I, Algebra II, geometry, and a higher-level math course with Algebra II as prerequisite OR Integrated Mathematics I, II, and III, and a credit beyond Integrated Mathematics III)
• Three Science Credits (A physical science course, biology, earth/environmental Science)
• Three Social Studies Credits
• One Health/Physical Education Credit
• Two Second Language Credits (2 credits in the same language) or Demonstration of proficiency in a language other than English as determined by the LEA
• Three Elective Credits

Handout 6